The Vampire King's Pet-Chapter 355: The vial

Aira was still shaken from what she had heard from Zyren. The weight of his words lingered heavily in her mind, refusing to fade no matter how much she tried to steady herself. She couldn’t help but ask for a moment alone, her voice quieter than usual, which Zyren didn’t hesitate to give her.

Right after planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, lingering just long enough to remind her he was there, he turned around and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

The scene described to her scared her to her core. It replayed in her thoughts again and again, each detail sharper than the last, even as she tried to convince herself that since Vander was dead, then there was still a possibility that Liora was alive and okay.

That fragile hope was the only thing keeping her grounded. Still, it didn’t wash away the anxiety she felt for her sister’s safety. The fear clung stubbornly to her chest as she slowly fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as tears gathered in her eyes despite her efforts to blink them away.

Their mother was dead. The reality of it felt unreal, distant and painful all at once. And now that she had consented to fully be a family with Zyren, she wanted her sister by her side more than ever—especially with the growing baby in her belly, a life that made everything feel heavier and more urgent.

Zyren had already sent even more people to look through the alleyways and slums. His reach extended far beyond the palace walls, and his authority carried weight in places most kings never dared to touch. It was only a matter of time before something turned up, before someone came back with answers.

Releasing a slow sigh, Aira pushed herself up from the bed and crossed the room. She changed into the black dress she had previously picked, smoothing the fabric down carefully. It was tight enough to show the outlines of her body, but not enough that the growing bump of her stomach could be clearly seen beneath the material.

With her red curly hair falling freely down her shoulders, framing her face, she stepped out of the room. The guards stationed at the entrance straightened immediately, greeting her with respectful bows as she passed. She acknowledged them with a brief nod before continuing on.

Her destination was the smaller, private dining room that belonged solely to Zyren. She had eaten a bit that morning, but the unease in her stomach hadn’t settled. She decided that a few snacks—something light and sweet—might help improve her mood while she waited to hear back from him.

She had just passed through one of the quieter corridors when her eyes flickered, instinctively recognizing someone walking directly toward her.

He didn’t speak. Instead, he slowed his steps just enough to fall into place behind her, seamlessly blending in as though he had been her guard all along. Aira continued walking without breaking stride, though a slight frown formed on her face at his silent presence.

He didn’t speak, and Aira didn’t turn around to acknowledge him. She simply kept moving, her pace steady, as she made her way into the small hall.

The guards at the entrance bowed deeply and stepped aside to let her in. Inside, the maids instantly hurried forward, their movements quick and practiced. Aira calmly told them what snacks and desserts she wanted, her voice controlled and even, and they scrambled off immediately to fulfill her requests.

It was only then, once they were alone, that Varret Elvane—who had been standing behind her the entire time—finally began to speak.

"Lady Aira! The lords sent me!" he said quickly, his tone eager. "They heard about your search for your sister!"

But Aira’s mood was far too dark to tolerate him. Her displeasure toward the hunter houses had been growing steadily, and now their presence only served to worsen it.

"...we can assure you that—"

"Kneel."

The word came out sharp, unmistakable, leaving no room for interpretation.

For a brief moment, there was no sound behind her. Aira half-expected him to hesitate, to question her authority even slightly. Instead, the next sound that echoed through the hall was the dull, heavy thud of knees hitting the floor.

Varret knelt immediately.

The sword attached to his hip slipped loose and fell, clattering loudly against the polished floor and breaking the silence.

"I have had enough of your lords," Aira said, her voice cold and steady. "You still owe me a ritual."

"The plan was abandoned, so—"

"I don’t care!" Aira snapped, clear anger cutting through her words. She didn’t bother hiding it.

"We had a deal. I don’t care if you decided not to follow through on your end."

Varret remained kneeling behind her, his head bowed in submission, his hands resting flat against his thighs.

Aira’s voice lowered slightly as she continued, calm on the surface but burning underneath as she recalled the words Varret had spoken before. The memory of how easily they had tried to use Liora against her made her stomach twist.

"I’ll get the ritual," she said. She didn’t truly need it, but having one of their secrets in her possession would be useful.

"Of course, Lady Aira," Varret replied instantly. "I’ll deliver it the next time I come to see you. But the lords need something as well. In exchange, they’ll deliver your sister to you safe and free."

His tone remained low, his posture carefully respectful.

The hall was mostly empty now. The maids knew better than to linger when discussions like this took place, and their absence left the space uncomfortably quiet.

Aira didn’t respond right away. She allowed the silence to stretch, letting it press down on him, before slowly turning around to face him.

"You know where my sister is?" she asked, meeting his gaze directly so he would understand the consequences if he chose to lie.

"Not yet," Varret admitted. "But with our human reach in the slums, it would be easier."

Aira couldn’t help the faint smile that flickered across her face as she heard him speak.

If Zyren’s reach wasn’t enough, she thought, then there was absolutely no way the hunters could do better.

Still, curiosity stirred.

She opened her mouth to speak again, her tone measured. "What do you want from me in return?" she asked, wanting to know what had made them desperate enough to bring such a deal before her.

"In exchange," Varret said carefully, "the lords of the various houses would like you to retrieve the black vial from King Zyren."

Aira wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

If the vial could prevent a werewolf king from healing, then there was no reason it wouldn’t work on a vampire as well. She was curious where Zyren had obtained it, but she had no intention of asking.

"I’m sure you’d like me to hand it over to you," she said evenly.

"Yes," Varret replied, nodding his head from where he knelt. "But the lords would prefer it even more if you used it on him."

The intention was unmistakable.

They wanted Zyren dead.